RICHMOND, Va. –
Matt McDermott was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year and
Jack Cone and
Ben Williamson were both placed on the All-CAA First-Team as announced by the conference Tuesday afternoon. In addition, McDermott was also named Second-Team All-CAA, while Williamson, a redshirt freshman, was on the All-Rookie team.
This season marks the first time since 2015 that the Tribe have had multiple players on the ALL-CAA First-Team list and the first time since 2016 to have at least three players honored by the conference.
McDermott, the slick-fielding shortstop made just three errors this season racking up a .982 fielding percentage anchoring the Tribe's defense. The senior had 105 assists and 52 putouts on 160 chances and had a hand in 13 double plays this season.
McDermott is the first Tribe player to win the award. The New Jersey native is tied for 10th all-time in Tribe history with 421 putouts and is fourth playing a part in 105 double plays. McDermott enters this weekend's tournament tied with current WM assistant Michael Katz with a .980 career fielding percentage. The two-hole hitter also hit .287 and led the team with 22 RBIs and nine stolen bases to land on the All-CAA Second Team.
Despite missing time to injury,
Jack Cone showed enough dominance when healthy to be named the utility player on the ALL-CAA First Team. When in the lineup, Cone patrolled center field and hit in the three spot racking up a .304 average to go with three triples and a pair of homers. Jack led the team with a .394 on base percentage and finished fourth on the team with 28 hits.
Cone also dazzled on the mound making 10 appearances and collecting a team-high four saves. In six games out of the pen against CAA opponents Cone allowed just two earned runs in 8.1 innings pitched. He earned Player of the Week honors in late March after having a walk-off hit in game one and recording a save in game two of a doubleheader sweep of UNCW.
Ben Williamson took over the lead-off spot in the order this season and did not disappoint in his first full year of collegiate baseball. The starting third baseman led the Tribe and finished in the top-10 in the league with 51 hits and paced WM with a .315 batting average. Williamson slugged .476 in conference play with seven of his 10 doubles and all three of his homers coming against CAA competition.
Dangerous on the bases, Williamson scored a team-high 27 runs and snagged six bases. Second on the team with 72 total bases and third with 19 runs driven in, the Chantilly native's offense was matched only by his work at the hot corner. The third baseman turned in a .952 fielding percentage and his highlight reel worthy plays were a regular occurrence throughout the season.
The Tribe will look to Cone, McDermott, and Williamson for big postseasons as the CAA Championship gets underway Wednesday. WM will face Elon at 4:00 p.m. in Wilmington to kick off tournament play. The Tribe and Phoenix split the regular season series 3-3.
